Chapter 15 - THE LAST RECORDINGLila woke in the hospital.
Celeste was sitting beside her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lila asked:
“Did you remember?”
Celeste nodded.
“Everything.”
“What did you see?”
Celeste looked away.
“The first girl.”
“Who?”
Celeste's voice became quiet.
“Her name was Mara.”
Lila frowned.
“Who is Mara?”
“The first child.”
“The first girl in the program.”
“Yes.”
“What happened to her?”
Celeste closed her eyes.
“She died.”
“How?”
“During the first experiment.”
Lila felt sick.
“Then why does everyone remember her?”
“Because Anya remembered her.”
“And you?”
“Because Anya gave me her memories.”
Lila began to understand.
The first finale was not about Anya.
It was about Mara.
The first girl.
The first victim.
The first memory.
Celeste reached into her bag.
She pulled out a small cassette.
“This was found in the theater.”
“What is it?”
“The last recording.”
Lila pressed play.
Celeste's younger voice filled the room.
“I don't know if anyone will ever hear this.”
A pause.
“Adrian believes memory can be preserved.”
Another pause.
“He is wrong.”
Lila listened.
“Memory is not a thing you can own.”
Celeste's voice trembled.
“It belongs to the person who lived it.”
Then:
“If someone tries to take my memories, I want them to know something.”
A long silence.
“I will leave one memory behind.”
Lila looked at her mother.
“What memory?”
Celeste looked at her.
“You.”
Lila's eyes filled with tears.
The recording continued.
“Lila, if you ever hear this, I am sorry.”
Lila covered her mouth.
“I wanted to protect you.”
The voice crackled.
“But I made you carry my fear.”
Celeste began crying.
“I hope one day you understand that I never wanted you to become me.”
The recording ended.
Lila reached for her mother's hand.
“I don't.”
Celeste looked at her.
“What?”
“Become you.”
Lila smiled through tears.
“I want to become me.”
May you like
Celeste nodded.
“That is all I ever wanted.”
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